Gale's HSB
Fuller's Brewery in London, Greater London, England 🏴
Bitter - ESB / Strong Bitter Regular|
Score
6.53
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Horndean Special Bitter (HSB) was first brewed in 1959 to meet a growing demand for a higher strength bitter. Sales growth was slow throughout the sixties when BBB and the cask milds were the predominant Gales beers. However, following the creation of CAMRA and the greater public interest in cask conditioned beer, HSB sales grew throughout the seventies and eighties and became Gales major brand. Production moved to Fullers in early 2006.
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4.9/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 4.5
[Cask at White Horse, London] Dark ruby. Light cherry aroma. Roasty and very sweet with fairly soft mouthfeel. Some caramel. More brash than refined. Medium bitterness.
Tried
from Cask
on 10 Aug 2006
at 01:34
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Cask@The Counting House, London City. Dark copper brown, small tan head. Woody, a bit roasted, hoppy nose. Sweet chocolaty fruity flavor (plums and figs). Some hops in the finish. Nice rounded mouthfeel.
Tried
from Cask
on 30 Jul 2006
at 02:05
5.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Cask at Ship London W1 28 Apr 06. Dark red/brown colour. Malty aroma but a bit dull.
Tried
from Cask
on 29 May 2006
at 10:53
7.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Cask at County Hotel (JDW) Ashford. Normally I like all of Gales beers, but this one just struck me of sweet brown water. Attractive dark brown colour, with some sweet malts on nose, but nothing distinctive. Some body with sweetish short finish. What a disappointment to take me to my 100th beer. 2.3/5 Re-rate Very deep chestnut colour with lasting beige head. Rich malty ESB. Choccy malts, very attractive and enormously drinkable. Dry malt aroma, slight spicey pepper hop on finish cask condtioned handpull Basketmakers Arms, Brighton
Tried
from Cask
on 15 Jun 2005
at 05:22
7.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 10
Overall 6.5
Cask: Dark copper/amber with a firm, creamy head. Malt, fruit aroma. Malt flavour, slightly sweet. Long aftertaste despite a lack of hops. 2001 bottle in 2008: Surprisingly good, malty beer with pronounced prunes and sherry notes.
Tried
from Cask
on 31 Mar 2005
at 14:22
6.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Cask at The Hogshead, Ipswich. Deep amber to brown colour. Moderate aroma of English malt vinegar and plums. Flavour is dusty malty with notes of malt vinegar and sour fruits. Dusty hops finish.
Tried
from Cask
on 26 Sep 2004
at 15:12
6.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Cask. Red chestnut colour. Creamy head. A little sour, but quite sweet and very malty.
Tried
from Cask
on 06 Sep 2004
at 07:07
6.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Dark bitter with a fairly hopped and oat aroma. Very bitter flavour makes for an average beer.
Tried
on 04 Sep 2003
at 17:01
5.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Cask conditioned.
Smooth, fresh, good but not outstanding.
Smooth, fresh, good but not outstanding.
Tried
from Cask
on 01 Feb 2003
at 15:30
6.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
A deep ret slightly unclear beer with a small head. The aroma is flat and slightly fruity. And the flavor too was flat and fruity.
Tried
on 28 Jan 2003
at 18:12